Methods and apparatus for a selectable backdrop

Abstract

A method, in a digital computer having a display screen, for executing an application program in a backdrop mode that makes the application program non-removable from the display screen. The method includes the steps of designating the application program for execution in the backdrop mode and executing the application program. Further, the method includes the step of intercepting, using substitute subroutines external to the application program, selected data destined for the application program. The interception advantageously prevents the application program from responding to the selected data in a manner normally expected of the application program if the application program executes in a non-backdrop mode. The selected data that is intercepted includes data for causing the application program to quit execution. Further, the method also includes the step of disabling a close option in the display screen to prevent a user of the digital computer from issuing a command to quit execution of the application program while the application program executes in the backdrop mode. In this manner, the method permits codes in the application program to remain substantially unchanged irrespective of whether the application program executes in the non-backdrop mode or in the backdrop mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a digital computer having a display screen, a method for executing an application program in a backdrop mode that makes said application program non-removable from said display screen, comprising: designating said application program for execution in said backdrop mode, said application program being capable of being designated for execution in one of said back-drop mode and a non-backdrop mode;   executing said application program;   intercepting, using substitute subroutines external to said application program, selected data destined for said application program, thereby preventing said application program from responding to said selected data in a manner normally expected of said application program if said application program executes in said non-backdrop mode, said selected data including data for causing said application program to quit execution; and   disabling a close option in said display screen to prevent a user of said digital computer from issuing a command to quit execution of said application program while said application program executes in said backdrop mode, wherein said method permits codes in said application program to remain substantially uncharged irrespective of whether said application program executes in said non-backdrop mode or in said backdrop mode.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein said disabling said close option step comprises the step of visually removing a user-selectable close icon from said display screen. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 wherein said user-selectable close icon is controlled by close icon codes that are external to said application program, said close icon codes causing said user-selectable close icon to be visually removed when said close icon codes are informed that said application program operates in said backdrop mode. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 3 wherein said step of visually removing said user-selectable close icon from said display screen comprises the step of making said user-selectable close icon appear smaller on said display screen. 
     
     
       5. The method claim 4 wherein said user-selectable icon is located on a status bar, said step of making said user-selectable icon appear smaller on said display screen comprises the step of reducing a width of said user-selectable icon, thereby permitting other icons on said status bar to shift their positions relative to a frame of said display screen when said application program is executed in said backdrop mode. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 1 wherein said selected data comprises data regarding window floating, said data regarding window floating, when intercepted by said substitute subroutines, causes said application program to always remain in said display screen visual background when said application program is executed in said backdrop mode. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 1 wherein said selected data comprises data for causing said application program to be visually bidden from said display screen, said data for causing said application program to be visually hidden from said display screen, when intercepted by said substitute subroutines, prevents said application program from being visually hidden from said display screen when said application program is executed in said backdrop mode. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 1 wherein said selected data comprises data for causing said application program to be toggled between being active and being inactive, said data for causing said application program to be toggled, when intercepted by said substitute subroutines, prevents said application program from being toggled between being active and being inactive when said application program is executed in said backdrop mode. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of intercepting comprises the step of enabling stud substitute subroutines in a context frame associated with said application program when said application program is executed in said backdrop mode. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of designating comprises the step of selecting a user-selectable application icon on said display screen, said user-selectable application icon being representative of said application program. 
     
     
       11. A computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for executing an application program in a backdrop mode that makes said application program non-removable from said display screen, the computer program product comprising: computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to designate said application program for execution in said backdrop mode, said application program being capable of being designated for execution in one of said back-drop mode and a non-backdrop mode;   computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to execute said application program; and   computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to intercept, using substitute subroutines external to said application program, selected data destined for said application program, thereby preventing said application program from responding to said selected data in a manner normally expected of said application program if said application program executes in said non-backdrop mode, said selected data including data for causing said application program to quit execution; and   computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to disable a close option in said display screen to prevent a riser of said digital computer from issuing a command to quit execution of said application program while said application program executes in said backdrop mode, wherein said method permits codes in said application program to remain substantially unchanged irrespective of whether said application program executes in said non-backdrop mode or in said backdrop mode.   
     
     
       12. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein said computer readable program code configured to cause said computer to disable said close option in said display screen comprises code configured to visually remove a user-selectable close icon from said display screen. 
     
     
       13. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein said user-selectable close icon is controlled by close icon codes that are external to said application program, said close icon codes configured to cause said computer to visually remove said user-selectable close icon when said close icon codes are informed that sad application program operates in said backdrop mode. 
     
     
       14. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein said selected data comprises data regarding window floating, said data regarding window floating, when substituted by substitute data regarding window floating, causes said application program to always remain in said display screen visual background when said application program is executed in said backdrop mode. 
     
     
       15. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein said selected data comprises data for causing said application program to be visually hidden from said display screen, said data for causing said application program to be visually hidden from said display screen, when intercepted by said substitute subroutines, prevents said application program from being visually hidden from said display screen when said application program is executed in said backdrop mode. 
     
     
       16. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein said selected data comprises data for causing said application program to be toggled between being active and being inactive, said data for causing said application program to be toggled, when intercepted by said substitute subroutines, prevents said application program from being toggled between being active and being inactive when said application program is executed in said backdrop mode. 
     
     
       17. A digital computer having a display screen for executing an application program in a backdrop mode that makes said application program non-removable from said display screen, comprising: means for designating said application program for execution in said backdrop mode, said application program being capable of being designated for execution in one of said back-drop mode and a non-backdrop mode;   means for executing said application program;   means for intercepting, using substitute subroutines external to said application program, selected data destined for said application program, thereby preventing said application program from responding to said selected data in a manner normally expected of said application program if said application program executes in said non-backdrop mode, said selected data including data for causing said application program to quit execution; and   means for disabling a dose option in said display screen to prevent a user of said digital computer from issuing a command to quit execution of said application program while said application program executes in said backdrop mode, wherein said digital computer permits codes in said application program to remain substantially unchanged irrespective of whether said application program executes in said non-backdrop mode or in said backdrop mode.